Traeger forces app update

[GaryC]

I tried to use my 780 last week and when I opened the app it required an update. I tried to update and it now says my phone is not compatible.
Customer support says that my device is no longer compatible with their app.
I contend that their app is no longer compatible with my device.
I have the same grill and the same device that I had last month but now Traeger says they they are no longer compatible.
I fear that they have updated to the point that I am no longer a satisfied customer.
The grill is still under warranty
I was not led to believe at the time of purchase that my phone would not work. It did for more than a year.
Traeger has taken away a feature of the grill that I used, liked and paid for.
Count me a customer no more.

 

[CMTiger]

What phone do you have?

It does suck, but this seemingly happens with all companies and not just Traeger. If your device is old enough almost all apps eventually can’t be updated/stop downloading.

And it makes me wonder if it’s more of an Apple (or whomever else) thing and not necessarily Traeger or whoever else

 

[GaryC]

What phone do you have?

It does suck, but this seemingly happens with all companies and not just Traeger. If your device is old enough almost all apps eventually can’t be updated/stop downloading.

And it makes me wonder if it’s more of an Apple (or whomever else) thing and not necessarily Traeger or whoever else

It’s an iPhone 6s.
A phone that was completely compatible when I purchased the grill.
I didn’t ask for or want an update, it was required of me to continue that feature. It seems to me that an update should be optional. If I want to plod along like the dinosaur that I am with an old app that should be my choice. Instead Traeger updated my grilling experience to the point that I can no longer use features that I purchased. They did this in the name of progress?

 

[GaryC]

I think we as a society are too quick to just accept our fate when we are told that things are just too old to function anymore.
Sure i could just go spend a thousand dollars on a new phone that has huge storage capacity, can take pictures of a flea as easily as a moon crater and follow my favorite influencer from almost anywhere on the globe and my grill app would work. Is all that really required to change the temp on my grill? It wasn’t necessary last month but now it seems it is.
I have an old Willys Jeep out in the garage, it’s 75 years old and with minor upgrades and maintenance it still does the job it was purchased for before most of us were born. Heck before most of our daddies were born. I suspect that grandpa would have driven it through the dealers door if they told him that it’s just too old to use it like he did last month and it needed scrapped and replaced with a newer model.

 

[CMTiger]

It’s an iPhone 6s.
A phone that was completely compatible when I purchased the grill.
I didn’t ask for or want an update, it was required of me to continue that feature. It seems to me that an update should be optional. If I want to plod along like the dinosaur that I am with an old app that should be my choice. Instead Traeger updated my grilling experience to the point that I can no longer use features that I purchased. They did this in the name of progress?

I’m not saying it doesn’t suck, but I can’t imagine that’s the only app that has stopped working on your 6s.

Apple stops letting you update your phone. They slowly make your phone obsolete for anything other than calling and texting. I think the majority of your frustration should be pointed at them and not Traeger us all I’m saying

 

[GaryC]

So far it’s only the Traeger app that doesn’t work and I have quite a bunch. Downloaded two apps today and they worked just fine.
I don’t see how it’s apples fault that Traeger built an app that wasn’t backwards compatible.
Why exactly should I blame Apple? So far their product works fine. It seems to me that this falls squarely on Traeger.

 

[CMTiger]

So far it’s only the Traeger app that doesn’t work and I have quite a bunch. Downloaded two apps today and they worked just fine.
I don’t see how it’s apples fault that Traeger built an app that wasn’t backwards compatible.
Why exactly should I blame Apple? So far their product works fine. It seems to me that this falls squarely on Traeger.

Apple hasn’t allowed you to update your 6s to their current operating system in over a year now.

 

[RustyJake]

I don't have an iPhone, so I have no idea if you can revert back and keep using the old app, but here's some instructions from a quick search:

3 Ways to Install Older Versions of Apps on an Older iPhone

If your iPhone is too old, the App Store might not let you download new apps. Here are some easy workarounds so you can still get the apps you want.

www.makeuseof.com

Obviously anything you do would be at your own risk when trying. But what do you have to lose, it doesn't work for you now.
You can on android phones and just need to turn auto updates off for the phone. If you can get the old app to work and can shut off updates, maybe it will be a workaround for you

 

[GaryC]

I haven’t let my phone update for several years. Maybe that’s why it still works. It seems that the more updates I do the shorter the functional lifespan of a device is.
If a device does exactly what I want and expect why would I update?
I have worked in the electronics field my entire life and hold patents in that field. I understand how these things work and forced updates are one way that company’s create obsolescence.
I never updated the software to a device that was performing its task exactly as desired and expected.
People have been conditioned to accept that stuff works only so long and then it quits.
That’s incorrect, as long as the physical components don’t fail electronic devices continue to work until somebody somewhere decides that they should not and make changes to the permissions or requirements.

I’m certain that’s what happened here. Somebody decided that I needed cool color shifting background graphics They didn’t decide to leave an app that worked perfectly fine for me and many more alone.
I was not asked if I wanted a cool background it was decided that I would get one as long as I used a device that met their standards.
I would be happy with the old app until my grill rusted into oblivion. Now I’m mad every time I walk by it.

 

[GaryC]

Rusty, I tried to download an older version and it just sent me into a loop. Customer service suggested that I uninstall the app and reinstall. I did that and when I opened the newly installed app a page popped up telling me to go to the app store and update the app. At the same time the page froze and nothing worked.
Customer service just says that it’s my problem to deal with. Thanks Traeger.
I’m so fed up at this point that I think I’m going to find another brand gril.

 

[GaryC]

Not updating was not an option in this case. It was forced. When I opened the app a few days ago the page told me that I NEEDED to go to the App Store and upgrade.
I didn’t know at that time that somewhere someone decided that I should no longer be able to use my grill in the manner to which I had become accustomed.
I would be ecstatic if I could download an older version and make it work. I haven’t found that to be an option at this point and Traeger customer service told me that would no longer be an option. If I wanted to connect to this grill I would need a new phone.

 

[GaryC]

CM Tiger. I guess I’m just a little stubborn here but why do I care that Apple won’t let me update to THEIR most current operating system. I’m perfectly happy running the one that has worked for years.
I guess I’m just hanging onto my old work life where I had to attempt to breathe life into outdated equipment as updating would have been prohibitively costly. I never thought of myself as a dinosaur but I guess I am.
I keep and repair my vehicles for decades. I catch fish on the same tackle that my dad used. I hunt with a bow and arrow.
All those things work for me but I’m finding that in today’s world I gotta get good with throwing away perfectly functional equipment so I can have new equipment that looks cooler. The new stuff isn’t going to grill my chicken any better but I’m going to look good doing it.

 

[Shedd]

I have a iPhone, actually I just got a new 14pro max a few weeks back and it didn’t connect to my traeger. I deleted the app, installed the app again and it works great. Before I had a 13 Pro Max and they actually did an update on the Traeger (thus why I keep it un plugged when not using now) and it wouldn’t work. I read on here about deleting the app and reinstalling it, it worked after I did it then.

A iPhone 6 is years outdated to the latest technology (not bashing you) and I get it that Traeger has to stay up to date with technology but that’s just the way things change

 

[Shedd]

Not updating was not an option in this case. It was forced. When I opened the app a few days ago the page told me that I NEEDED to go to the App Store and upgrade.
I didn’t know at that time that somewhere someone decided that I should no longer be able to use my grill in the manner to which I had become accustomed.
I would be ecstatic if I could download an older version and make it work. I haven’t found that to be an option at this point and Traeger customer service told me that would no longer be an option. If I wanted to connect to this grill I would need a new phone.

I think updating your phone since it’s been so long will definitely help. Hopefully you’ll get it worked out. I absolutely hate how technology is changing so fast and they expect us to just know this stuff. I really miss the 1980s

 

[RustyJake]

I get that, I hate changing phones and usually keep my android phone beyond its level of support. But fortunately on android you are usually able to use older versions of software without updating. There were occasions where the actual software wouldn't work any longer. That happened on a couple of mybolder apps, including one that was paid for. I am guessing that's what you are experiencing, they have shut off access for the version you have. For whatever their reasons may be they cut off backwards compatibility.
I feel for you, but depending on brands and how they handle updates you may face the same issues. You may want to ask their tech support what their policy is for supporting legacy software revisions.